REVIEWS

Kid Sister's willing and definitely able backing DJ-MC duo Flosstradamus (J2K and Autobot) warmed up the crowd before she took the main stage. The rising hometown heroine and Kanye darling did her darndest to command the stage with help from background dancers, painted "golden girls," her own spunky nonstop dance moves and fresh songs about beepers, jukin' and, of course, "Pro Nails," from her hotly anticipated album on Downtown Records. [FAUZIA ARAIN, METROMIX SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR]

Kanye West

Heeding a lesson obviously learned from the Bonnaroo snafu, Kanye West started his set fashionably late at 8:35 sans any big introduction from Barack Obama. Bursting on stage in a cloud of blue and purple, he grabbed the audience and never let go. He performed all his hits and played on audience emotions as he called for onlookers to "scream for my mama" as he fell to the floor. Kanye has an obvious flair for the dramatic, and through full-throttle stage swagger and production he channeled it in the best way possible, closing Lollapalooza with a giant bang. [ERIN OSMON, METROMIX SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR]

Gnarls Barkley

Dressed like a group of milk men, Gnarls Barkley took the stage in a burst of drum beats, screaming "Chi-town make some noissseee." Dapper frontman-turned-sweaty soulster Cee-Lo Green swooned, while Danger Mouse recalled Peanuts character Schroeder as he hovered over the organ. The band provided flailing dance moves, and the crowd freaked over favorites like "Crazy" and a cover of Violent Femmes "Gone Daddy Gone." Safe, solid for a couple of Grammy winners. [E.O.]

Girl Talk

The psyched body-to-body mass eager to be rocked by Pittsburgh's Gregg Gillis toiling away over his laptop was in place and still growing 20 minutes before showtime, a hot mess in the making. Gillis is like crack for partygoers and more chaos than the Citi stage had likely seen all weekend ensued -- including the requisite rush of dancers. Closing his set, a pumped Gillis informed the overflowing crowd, "The stage is [bleeping] bending! Congratulations!" [F.A.]

Office

Would the B-52s be as much of a party without Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson? Would Fred Snyder seem slightly more annoying? A couple questions I pondered during Office's set, which featured the male replacements for departed bassist Alissa Noonan and keyboardist Jessica Gonyea. The Chicago rockers sounded as polished and poppy as ever, though they've clearly lost some of their on-stage charm. [MATT MCGUIRE, METROMIX]